Insulator



Patented July 21, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN D. BEE-BE, 0FAKRON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE B. F. GOODRICH COMPANY, 7

NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK INSULATOR Application filedApril 17,

This invention relates to electric or shock insulators and moreespecially to resilient insulators having cushioning as well asdielectric properties.

The invention is especially directed to insulators for use betweentrack-rails and clamps or-clips by which said rails are secured to metaltie-plates mounted upon metallic ties. The insulators serve to cushionthe clips against the vibration of the rails and the strains due toheat-expansion of the metal, and permit the rails to be used aselectrical conductors for propulsion or for signaling purposes byinsulating them against current leakage and against ground currentswhich otherwise would reach them through the metal ties.

The chief objects of the invention are to provide an improved insulatorfor use between a track rail and a clip for securing the rail to a metaltie; to provide an insulator for the purpose mentioned which will serveas a cushion between the respective members; and to provide an insulatorhaving a wear surface of abrasion resisting material.

Of the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a track rail and tie assemblyshowing my improved insulator, in its preferred form, operativelyassociated therewith.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of my improved insulator, and a portion ofa sheet of insulating material normally used with a rail and tieassembly.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is one of a pair of metal rail ties whichmay comprise. sections of worn out track rails, and 11 is one of a pairof angle irons or other suitable metal strips welded to the ends of theties 10 to connect them in parallel spaced relation. Secured to the topfaces of the ties 10 is a pair of tie plates such as the tie plate 12,Fig. 1, each adapted to provide support for a track rail 13, and acushion of insulating material such as the rubber sheet 1 1 ispositioned between the tie plate and the rail, the cushion preferablybeing of somewhat greater width than the base flange of the rail and ofgreater length than the tie plate 12. The tie plate 12 is formed with aplurality 1929. Serial No. 355,872

of rectangular apertures 15, 15 at each side of the rail 13, and mountedtherein are respective C-shaped clips 16 which engage the tie plate 12and extend over the marginal portions of the base flange of the rail13,one of my improved insulators 17 being positioned between the rail'andeach of the clips 16. A spring wedge 18 is mounted in each aperture 15behind the clip 16 therein for urging the latter toward the rail, andthe cushion 14 is formed with marginal notches lt which extend inwardlyto the base flange of the rail 18, to permit the insulators 17 and clips16 to engage the rail.

The insulator 17 comprises an angular structure of tough, resilientrubber having good aging and dielectric properties, approximatelyconforming to the contour ,of the marginal portion of the rail 13 and tofit the adjacent face of the clip 16, and formed with lateral flanges 1717 which overlie the adjacent lateral faces of the clip, and an endflange 17 which overlies the adjacent end face of the clip. Therail-side face of theinsulator 17 and the end flange 17' are providedwith a metal wear-plate 19, preferably vulcanized thereto and extendingsomewhat short of the lower margin of the frail-side face and the uppermargin of the end flange 17 The wear-plate 19 protects the insulator 17from friction due to vibration of the rail 13, and also confines the endflange 17 against the end face of the clip 16 so that said flange willnot fall away therefrom should it disintegrate after long use.

My improved insulator is durable in use as to resistance to weather, inits inherent capacity for absorbing vibration, and in its protectionfrom friction due to vibration. It is easily attached or detached fromthe rail-holding clips, and provides perfect insulation between theclips and the rails so that the latter may be used for electricalconductors for a signaling system. The termination of the plate 19 shortof the upper limit of the rubber member avoids bridging across therubber and short electrical connection of the rail and tie by debris.

My invention may be modified within the scope of the appended claims andI do not limit my claims wholly to the specific construction shown anddescribed.

I claim:

1. An insulator comprising a resilient rubber cushion, and a rigidwear-surface of abrasion resisting zmaterial vulcanized thereto.

2. An insulator comprising a resilient rubleer cushion, and -a rigidwear-=sur face comprising a plate of metal attached thereto by aVulcanized bond.

3. An integral insulator adapted to be positioned between a track-railand a retain-r ing clip therefor, said insulator comprising a resilientrubber cushion adapted to engage said clip, and a metal wear-surfaceattached thereto and adapted to engage said rail, said wearsu-riaceextending somewhat short of the upper margins of the dielectricstructure.

.4. An insulator for use between a trackrail and a retaining membertherefor, said insulater comprising a resilient rubber stm-i ctuneadapted to be positioned between the rail and retaining member andformed with lateral flanges adapted to zoverlie respective faces of thesaid member.

5. .rbn integral insulator for use between a tracker-ail and a retainingmember therefor, insulator comprising a resilient rubber cushion, and ametal wear-surface vulcanized to a side of said structure and extendingshort of the margins thereof.

6. An integral insulatorfor use between 4 track-.mil and a retainingmember therefor,

said insulator comprising a resilient nibber structure adapted topositioned be tween the rail and the retaining member and formed withlateral flanges adapted to overlie respective faces of the latter, and ametal wear-surface attached to one side of the structure.

In witness whereof I have hereunto .set my hand this 15th day of April,1929.

JOHN D. BEEBE.

